Utabori

Utabori II (二代目歌彫, Nidaime Utabori), known simply as Utabori (歌彫), is a recurring character in the Yakuza series. He is a tattoo artist based in Kamurocho.

Profile[]

Appearance[]

Utabori is an elderly man with thinning grey hair and a beard.

Attire[]

He is always seen in his blue tattooist's robe.

Personality[]

My ink has the power to alter a man's fate. I hope this won't be too heavy a burden.

— Utabori to Rikiya, Yakuza 3

Utabori has a deep understanding of the meaning of the tattoos he inks and the effects they have on the people who wear them.

Background[]

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Utabori inked Kazuma Kiryu's and Akira Nishikiyama's yakuza full-back-piece tattoos.

Involvement[]

Yakuza/Yakuza Kiwami: 1995-2005[]

When Yumi Sawamura regained her memory of Kiryu during his incarceration, she commissioned Utabori to ink a Queen of the Night flower in the hopes that she would see him again, even if only for a night.

Kiryu visits Utabori at his shop after his ten year imprisonment. He shows Utabori a picture of the victim who is assumed to be "Mizuki" with a "queen of the night" tattoo on her upper left side of her torso believing the tattoo is designed by him. Utabori then gets a phone call from Nishiki, who requests Utabori have him speak with Kiryu to meet with him that night at Serena. Utabori later repairs Kiryu's worn out dragon tattoo.

Yakuza 2/ Yakuza Kiwami 2: 2006[]

Utabori is mentioned when Kiryu speaks with Kazahori IV in Sotenbori. Kazahori says that Utabori II is considered a legend in the world of tattoo artists. Kazahori and his protege Akina figure out Kiryu's identity when he told the tattoo on his back is a dragon. According to them, Kiryu is the last person to have the dragon drawn by Utabori.

Yakuza 3/Yakuza Kiwami 3: 2009[]

Main article: Dotting the Eye

Utabori fills in the eye of Rikiya's habu pit viper tattoo.

During the events of Dark Ties, Mine commissions his tattoo from Utabori.

Trivia[]

In Ryu Ga Gotoku Online, it is stated that Utabori was the one who inked Ichiban Kasuga's tattoo, however, his signature is not present.